Tobacco Tax in Idaho is a Bad Idea

There has been an attack on smoking for many, many years in the political world. Justifiably so, too. Smoking is bad for your health. It stinks and has been proven to cause cancer, emphysema and a plethora of other ailments. The wise thing for smokers to do is to quit.

However, who’s job is it to make smokers stop smoking? Who has the right to tell them they can’t start in the first place? Apparently, several groups in Idaho think they do. The American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network, Idaho State Dental Association, American Heart Association, Idaho Medical Association, Idaho Academy of Family Physicians, Idaho Primary Care Association, Saint Alphonsus Health System (whoever they are!), Idaho Society of Respiratory Care, American Lung Association in Idaho, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, The Idaho Oral Health Alliance, Idaho Public Health Association, Oncology Nurses of Southern Idaho, Idaho Public Health Districts, American Dental Hygienists’ Association, Idaho Academy of Physician Assistants, Tobacco Free Idaho Alliance, the March of Dimes, Comprehensive Cancer Alliance for Idaho, Idaho Association of Counties, and the Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics have all signed on in support of a bill in Idaho proposing to increase the tobacco tax by $1.25.

Presidential Politics

Every day, every individual is faced with choices. Some choices require that we accept what seems unacceptable. Usually, like the toppings of a pizza, it’s a matter of perspective. To one individual anchovies are appealing while another finds them repulsive. At other times, there appears no alternative choice like pizza toppings that double as food allergens. At other times still, it’s like eating nasty, chalky lima beans only because your mother told you to, not because you like them and know they’re full of vitamins and nutrients. Political choices more often than not fit into the first category where the choice is comprised only of perspective.

This year’s Presidential campaign is no different—No matter how much you’d like it to be. It’s not that this is not a critical election cycle because it is. But then, how many previous Presidential elections were deemed “The most critical election in the history of the United States”?

Letter to Romney RE NDAA

17 January 2012



Mitt Romney for President
P.O. Box 149756
Boston, MA 02114-9756

RE: Fox News Debate 16 January 2012

Dear Mr. Romney,

I have been watching the debates on the Internet because I haven’t had television for some time now. I would gladly have voted for you four years ago because I considered John McCain to be a Democrat in Republican clothing.

Though I will vote for you in the general election should you be the nominee, I cannot vote for you in Idaho’s caucus unless you change your position on the following matter.

They're at it again!

Once again, our duly elected officials are over-working. This time? 40 Senators, no doubt under pressure from the entertainment lobby, are working on passing S 968, the “Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011” (PIPA) Hmm, that’s odd. It’s 2012. At the same time, 30 Representatives are, under the same pressure, working on passing H.R. 3261, the “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA).

They seem reasonable, don’t they. I mean: who doesn’t want to protect intellectual and other property from theft? No one except criminals. Here’s the problem: there are laws on the books that, unlike immigration, do get enforced.